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NSF International Announces Three Key Promotions

NSF International | Oct 23, 2006

ANN ARBOR, MI USA - NSF International, The Public Health and Safety CompanyTM, today announced three key senior level management promotions that will help advance the organization’s global public health mission.

Kristen Holt, formerly the chief financial officer and senior vice president of NSF, has been promoted to senior vice president of NSF’s Food Safety and Dietary Supplement Programs and president of NSF International Strategic Registrations, Ltd, (NSF-ISR), an NSF International Company, that provides management system registrations worldwide. In addition, Michael P. Walsh, CPA, has been promoted to vice president and chief financial officer and Tom Chestnut has been appointed vice president of NSF’s Supply Chain Food Safety and Quality Programs.

In her new role, Holt will be responsible for the strategic direction and success of NSF’s Food Safety and Dietary Supplement Programs as well as all management system registration programs. This includes implementing new strategies to enhance NSF’s food safety and registration services. Holt will continue her role as president of Quality Assurance International (QAI), which is the leading provider of organic certification programs.

Since joining NSF in 1997, Holt has held several leadership roles including senior vice president and chief financial officer, vice president of administration, director of finance and controller. As chief financial officer, she has led the successful completion of four major acquisitions, including QAI. Holt holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan where she graduated with high distinction, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University.

Walsh most recently served as director of finance overseeing all financial and accounting activities at NSF, including issuing financial statements, managing domestic and international budgets and ensuring effective internal controls. As CFO, Walsh will continue to oversee all fiscal matters for the company as well as head the implementation of NSF's acquisition strategy.

Before joining NSF in 2003, Walsh spent 16 years with Plante & Moran, PLLC managing audit and tax activities for clients in the manufacturing and service industries. Walsh is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Marquette University where he graduated Cum Laude.

Chestnut is responsible for NSF’s Supply Chain Food Safety and Quality Programs, including NSF Cook & Thurber and NSF Davis FreshTM. He came to NSF from Darden Restaurants where he served most recently as vice president for Total Quality. Darden is the parent company of Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Bahama Breeze.

While at Darden, Chestnut served in several senior level positions including international director of product safety and quality. He also worked as director of quality assurance for General Mills Restaurant and director of environmental health for Coles County Health Department in Charleston, Illinois. Chestnut holds a bachelor of science degree in environmental health from Illinois State University, with graduate studies in administration and management at the University of Illinois. He also served as vice-chair of the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) and as a member of the CFP board for six consecutive years.

About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, Ltd., organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.